December 19, 2014

Concerns over dentist spark “largest recall in NHS history”

Desmond  D’Mello has been suspended by the General Dental Council following allegations that equipment was not being properly sterilised.

The regulator intervened after a whistleblower secretly filmed Mr D’Mello at work at his surgery.

The GDC report said the footage showed a failure to follow cross-infection controls, with the dentist allegedly using dental instruments on more than one patient, without decontaminating them, and also reusing dirty gloves.

It continued: “We observed the staff toilet and the room next to the toilet were being used as store rooms for equipment.

“This posed a risk of these items coming into contact with body fluids.

“This risk had not been identified by staff at the dental surgery and no action had been taken to minimise it.”

After the concerns came to light last month, 22,000 patients were contacted and offered tests for HIV and Hepatitis.

Doug Black, medical director of NHS England in Nottinghamshire, said that it was largest patient recall in the history of the health service.

At Royds, our personal injury team has a wealth of experience representing both claimants and defendants in respect of clinical negligence claims. For more information please visit our website or email James Millar Craig.

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